GOLF.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17115, 9 April 1921, Page 9

GOLF.

SEASON AT ST.. ANDREWS. (SPECIAL TO "THE TSOSS.") (By Abe Mitchell.) This season promises to be the biggesl a s well as the most important in the history of tho game. Wo aro to bo challenged on all sides, and the test is hound to ho very severe. Miss Cecil Loiteh and her sister players can, I think, safely bo left to look after tho woman's sido of the game, though I »m fold on-the best authority that Miss Alcxa Stirling is an exceptional player. Indeed, her record is proof of this, for she has not lost a match for three years. Ono cannot he quite so confident in regard to the amateurs. I hear, however, that "Chirk" Evans, after all, is very doubtful whether ho will he able to come over. He would have received the warmest of welcomes, but his «b----scenee from the field at Hoylako will lessen the severity of tho task of keeping the Amateur Cup in this country. In regard to tho Open Championship, 1 fe?l sure we can hold the Americans «t bay. There have been big stories that a battalion thirty strong are to bo sent over. I imagine that thero is a touch of American exaggeration about this. I do not think there arc thirty professionals in America to-day who aro competent to win at St. .Andrews, Ikssides, a man takes a big financial risk in leaving his club at the busiest period of the year, and tho visit can only ropay aim if he wins or does extremely well. H more than ten American professionals urive off at St. Andrews 1 Khali bo surprised. For instance, 1 hoar that Jack itutchison, who return* iu a day or so, is very doubtful whether be will amo back in June. 110 has had a good holiday and has thoroughly enjoyed himself, but the call of golf on tho otuer sido is insistent. Hutchison is thoroughly converted to American golf, and has no desire to stay in this country. Kardor Conditions: Better Play. Then after tho championship Duncan and I hope to proceed to America to try to carry off their championship. To win this event nowadays is no small feat, and llay is to be highly congratulated on his performance at Toledo. Tho standard «f golf in America aunt have improved tremendously ginco.l9l3, hut I think that professional golf it this country has also improved. Despite the longer courses of tho prcsc&tMt^j-^ the scoring has been just as good|u «t tho last championship at I'rcKtttok. Then, too, tho balls have improved, whila I think that tho modern toy of hitting tho ball instead of swoojjag it off tho tee, as was don© in tho dm of the gutta. has helped to lift tmfstOß* dard of play. At tho samo time, greens iiavo been more closely bunborof tad altogether golf is a moro difficultwune than* formerly. Indeed, courses 6-day are so severe that tho slightest ngMaka may ruin a good card. More thu 000 championship has been lost through to* bad hole. A notable exception toltkis was at Prcstwick in 1008. ThatoSMMr Braid won witlf tho record score cOsl, after taking eight, or was it nittfc >to tho Cardinal. 1 hare orton beW| told of Braid's wonderful golf that yoari and though Prestwick was, at that time; one of tho shortest of tho championship courses, the lack of length was more than made, up for by the tho holes. ' It was tho sleeper faced bunker which caused Braid to takoao many to what, was then an easy ffirt hole. Howovcr, his golf aftor tsia' disaster was splendid, and in his usual manner he went on to win rather easily.

The Famous Boad Hole. This year's meeting at St. Andrew* promises tit be most exciting. 'then w that darvaded seventeenth hole arid until it has been, played no-ono feel* sale. Tho road hole, as it is known, is nhvnys'liable to piny tlio poller Also and ruin ' his card, and . 'possibv- his - chances of winning, fn tho opinion of many this hole, is not a good one. J. H. Taylor hns very decided vtewe on it. There is very little room on tho green to placo a long shot there and make the ball stop. Anyone who. dared to suggest that St. Andrews, was not a good courso would down alt tllu wrath of Scotland on his head, but 1 think that orily the Scotsmen appro- i cinte that hole. Certainly it is not - one at which to take a chance, espeei* ally in the stroke chompipnship, but in , the amateur event it might bo tint it was essential to.have a go at the ttftfeft' with the brass*. If the rond behind the green wore a bunker onb might bo tempted to take ono'a courage"ln both hands nnd risk everything with a brassie shot, but as a general rule this would not pay, especially wero there tit* slightest chance of tho ball going too ' far. , Onto over tho green there i* •little-' chance of playing a good recovery.., back, for tlio,bank of the green it to steep and tho road so hand that it, it. well nigh impossible to get any stop.on to n pitch shot nnd to ran it up tho hank and tnko a ohnnce is the only #*r, , rGhpecially .n's the bunker ehort Of to*' green is waiting to trap a loose retain shot. There are other holes nt St. Andrews which can just as easily upset ell cumulations. Kven tho-second, though it looks quite n simple one, has to be plnved very carefully. There U ft bunker to tho left of tho grew. WW * nr,sty one it is. Ido not Mean to My that it ought to bo nneasy hazard,, but it is always a menace, nnd too often wi> play away to the right, end by SO doiny are iinoblo to.get a fottr» Then the eleventh, the short hole, tt one to be dreaded. Most golfers hare * cause to remember it. There was ft time when it could be played with tho putter, but now it is just a trifle too far for that club. It looks quite simile, but that bunker on tho right has afatal attraction for us all. The wind nft a rule blows from the left, so w» : play tils shot with just a suspicion of cut, but if it ib a little weak then the bunker on the right finds us out. Front there it is easy to af> over the green, ' for tho sand in the hnHird is very fit*, find you must strike firmly or the ball will roll back and may como back into the bunker. ' J."' Still, St. Andrews is a wonderfaF place, and under its inspiration OHj ; ouiiht to play one's best golf there, •'<*. ', have not been to the tfl-ey old city rfnee Dunenn and I tied for the substitute championship, in th;» season after the war, and I am looking forward to my next visit.

AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. (Bv Cab!*—Preen A«cciaMmi; — opmUM) (Australian and N.Z. Cubh* AMocbflofc) (Ifsceivcd April Kit, 9.60 T,m.) XEW i'ORK. April 1. H-itchirwon won the Golf CnawplbntWp «t TVhit- Su'phur Springs with a score oi 388 for 72 hole?. -..,., ' »_ ' Kirkwood ti-.l wi'h Fothvruigium l« fourth place with a score of 293. HAGLEY CLCU. The Haglev Golf Chib will op.m !*• e«aeon Ihi* afternoon with ft mixed louMß* tor the Opening Day ChallcngO Cup.